Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PgCert HE)
The external environment in which higher education operates is a place of continuous change and challenge. The pandemic, global financial insecurity and technological developments have, and continue to, transform the landscape and practice of those who teach in higher education.
The University of Lincoln strategic plan (2022-2027) “Transforming lives and communities” sets out how the institution will respond to these challenges to maintain our reputation for teaching excellence and a great student experience alongside ambitions to increase and diversify student numbers, programme types and delivery methods.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PgCert HE) has been designed as a development pathway for academic and professional service staff to enable them to achieve their full potential and ensure that the University meets its challenges, and high expectations by embedding the themes and values of the strategic plan. The programme will support staff to ensure that their practice is inclusive and accessible to students from all backgrounds; agile and responsive to the needs of students and employers and pedagogically sound. It will enable staff to become skilled in reflective practice, curriculum development, flexible delivery and digital capability.
On successful completion participants will exit the programme with a PgCert HE which is recognised across the sector as a qualification to teach in Higher Education.
Programme structure and content
The PgCert HE is a 60-credit programme is divided into two 30-credit modules which will be delivered sequentially. The programme will take 12 months to complete on a part time basis.
The table below provides an overview of some of the module content.
| Effective teaching and learning in higher education | Assessment and evaluation in higher education |
|
· Theories of teaching and learning · Design and delivery of teaching · Teaching methods, styles and skills · Supporting learning · Inclusive and accessible practice · Reflective practice and professional development |
· Types and methods of assessment · Marking and grading · Feedback · Quality assurance and enhancement · Evaluating the effectiveness of teaching · Career sustainability and planning |
Teaching, learning and assessment strategy
The programme will be delivered using a blended learning model. Each week there will be a mix of synchronous (live) and asynchronous (self-directed) learning activities and these may take place in a physical or online learning environment. Information about how to engage with the teaching will be provided for participants in advance and via the University’s VLE (Blackboard).
We anticipate that participants will need approximately half a day a week to fully engage with the programme, although time demands will increase leading up to an assessment submission. Face-to-face teaching sessions will be held on a Tuesday afternoon at the Brayford campus or online.
There are three summative assessments on this programme:
- A portfolio of evidence of teaching practice (submitted at the end of the first module)
- An evaluation of teaching practice (oral presentation) (submitted the end of the second module)
- A plan for continued professional development (written submission or oral assessment) (submitted the end of the second module).
The programme has been designed so that there is no overlap between the teaching and assessment periods to enable staff participating to manage their workloads and other commitments.
Eligibility
You will be eligible to apply for the PgCert HE if:
- You are a member of academic staff at the University who is not eligible to participate in the Academic Professional Apprenticeship (APA) programme*
- You are a professional service member of staff with a role in teaching or supporting the learning and development of students
- You have a 2:1 honours degree or above (or equivalent) in any subject
- You have 15 hours (or more) of direct student contact through the duration of the programme (September 2023- July 2024)
- You have a 0.5FTE contract or above with the University of Lincoln
- You have approval from your Head of School/Department to apply/participate in this programme
*If you are unsure if you are eligible for the APA please contact APA@lincoln.ac.uk for more information. The APA is the university’s preferred route to teaching qualification for new academic staff.
Further information
The programme team are based in the Lincoln Academy for Learning and Teaching (LALT) and are happy to provide more information and answer any questions about the programme. Please email PGCertHE@lincoln.ac.uk
Application process
Although recruitment for September 2023 has now closed, we will start recruiting for the September 2024 cohort in Spring 2024. Please email PGCertHE@lincoln.ac.uk to register your interest.
We can only consider applications from internal members of staff at this time.